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May 31, 2018

In a major breakthrough in missile technology, India on Wednesday
successfully carried out the first test of a new surface-to-air missile
with nozzle less booster making its mark as a military superpower in
South East Asia region. Indigenously designed and developed by the
country’s premier research agency - Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO), the fastest missile in its class is capable of
neutralising fast moving aerial targets.

Defence sources said the
missile, which is yet to get a formal name, was flight tested from
launching complex-III of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) off Odisha
coast at about 12.05 pm. The missile, powered by Solid Fuel Ducted
Ramjet (SFDR), was fired from a static launcher meeting all mission
objectives.

The missile flew in its intended trajectory at a
speed of Mach 3 (thrice the speed of sound) and performed as expected
perfectly validating the new indigenous technology. “It was a booster
phase test of the missile and the mission was a major milestone for the
strategic missile programme. The nozzle less booster and SFDR were
tested successfully. We can now master the technology which will boost
several next-generation weapon systems,” a defence official told The New
Indian Express over the phone from New Delhi.

All radars,
telemetry and electro-optical systems deployed along the coast tracked
and monitored the health parameters of the missile system that has
faster reaction time. The data generated during the test are being
analysed for future missions.

“It is indeed a great achievement
for the Make-in-India programme. Several other components of the
missile, including the seeker with advanced technology, will be put to
tests soon. Though the range was not a matter during the maiden trial,
the missile will definitely have a longer strike range than the existing
similar systems in the arsenal,” the official said.

Even as
India has surface-to-air missile systems like Akash, Break 8, QRSAM and
all-weather beyond visual range air-to-air missile Astra, the
indigenously developed SFDR will help the country master in the cutting
edge technology which was secured by a few selected nations so far.

“The
new technology will help both surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles
perform better and enhance their strike range making the weapons more
lethal. Now India can have fastest long-range missiles in the two
categories providing a full-fledged and multi-layered aerial protection
from hostile attacks,” the official added.